Fuel supply system for automotive vehicles



Nov. 17, 1931.

c. H. BRASELTON ET AL 1,831,993

FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Filed Jan. 23, 1922 IHl \ mil M/l/E/VTORS iii) Patented Nov. 17, 1931 were s'rarss are CHESTER H. BRASELTON, OF NEW YORK, AND FRED B. MACLAREN, OF JAMAICA, NEW

'YOR-K; SAID MACLAREN ASSIGNOR TO SAID BBASELTON' FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Application filed January 23, 1922. Serial No. 531,137.

This invention relates to a system and mechanism for utilizing the relative movements of coacting means actuated by vibration for feeding fuel from a supply tankto a fuel consuming means, such as the charge forming device of a powerplant or an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle with means operating to control the feeding action of said fuel feeding means.

One of the main objects of our invention is to provide a fuel supply system for the engine of an automobile in which the vibration inherent in the automobile, when it is in operation, is utilized to pump fuel from a supply tank to a secondary tank for feeding therefrom to the engine and in which such pumping action is automatically rendered ineffective or inoperative when the liquid fuel in the secondary tank reaches a certain level.

A further object is to proride a fuel feeding system in which a receptacle is provided for holding liquid fuel pumped or fed from a supply tank until it is used up by the fuel consuming means and which has means for limiting the pressure at which the liquid fuel is supplied to the fuel consuming means by utilizing the liquid pumped into the receptacle as a means for modifying the action of the pumping mechanism.

In the embodiment of the mechanism shown and described in this application, we use vibrations such as caused by a moving 'vehicle or vehicle standing still, but subiected to vibration by the operation of a driving mechanism or other means, to bring about the lifting of liquid from a lower level, such as the supply tank of an automobile to a higher level tank from which the liquid fuel may be fed as desired by gravity or otherwise to the engine, and we control the pres sure at which said fuel to fed from the higher tank by means dampening the liquid lifting v or pumping mechanism.

More particularly the present invention has for its object to provide a gasoline feed ing system for an automotive vehicle in which an auxiliary tank is fed from a supply tank by pumping mechanism including an element normally out of contact with the liquid pumped but arranged so that when the height of the liquid in the auxiliary tank rises to a i V structures including various details of con struction and economies of manufacture, all appearing from the design and operation herein disclosed which shows a form of the invention for a certain application and representing an illustrative preferred embodiment for one useful application of our method and mechanism for broadly utilizing the same.

In the embodiment shown,

Figure I illustrates a specific application of our invention to an automobile, and

Figure II is a vertical section through the fuel lifting pump showing the detailed construction thereof.

Referring to Figure I of the drawings, there is shown an application of our invention embodied as a pumping mechanism wherein the pump is shown applied to an automobile 11 for the purpose of pumping liquid fuel from a main tank 12 at a lower level to a chamber in the pump tank 10 at a higher level, in order that the liquid fuel may flow by gravity from this fuel chamber in the pump tank 10 to the carburetor 13 for supply to the engine. The main tank 12 has a pipe 14 which connects the main tank to the pump tank 10. The carburetor 18 is mounted in this form on the internal combustion engine 15, adjacent the intake manifold 16, and this carburetor is connected to the pump tank 10 by a feed pipe 17.

The pump tank 10 is positioned intermediate the carburetor and main tank and is secured to the dash of the automobile and suiliciently above the level of the carburetor that the liquid fuel in the pump tank will readily flow by gravity through the pipe 17 to the carburetor in all normal positionsof the automobile.

The conventional featuresof an aut0m0 bile chassis are disclosed in Figure I including a frame 1.8 supported through springs 19 and the usual axles, on wheels 20. The trans mission control and engine and other automobile details are merely conventional and are not described specifically, they being immaterial to an explanation of this invention.

Referring now to Figure 11 of the draw,- i-ngs there is shown in this figure a detailed section of an illustrative pump unit and tank 10, showing the relationship of the various parts and their operation. A cylindrical tank 30 is shown, the body 31 of which is formed preferably of sheet or stamped'metal and fitted with gas or liquid tight end caps or plates 32 and 33 which caps may be fastened on in any convenient manner. The lower plate 33 is formed with a central aperture 34 connected by a lateral conduit 35 to a pipe coupling 36 coupling with one end of supply pipe 14, the other end of which by suitable coupling leads to the interior of the main or lower tank 12 near the bottom thereof. In the conduit 35 is located a valve 37 shown as a ball valve in which the ball'38 cooperates with the valve seat 39. Above the valve is a screw plug 40 adapted to be removed for the insertion of the valve and for the cleaning of the valve and conduit. The valve 37 and pipe coupling 36 may of course lead directly into the central part of plate 33 instead of at one side as shown, and the valve may be carried by the coupling member or in any way desired and be removable with it. In fact the exact arrangement of this part of the construction is a matter of preference in design and not material to the invention.

Fuel pipe 17 from the tank to the carburetor has its upper end connected by suitable couplin to a joint 42 screwing into an opening in t 1e lower plate 33 so as to connect the carburetor through this pipe and joint with the inside of the liquid chamber in the pump tank surrounding the pump mechanism and inside the wall of the casing 31. The upper end of the joint 42 instead of stopping flush with the bottom of the inside of the tank projects upwardly into the chamber 7'1 a short distance to allow a space in the extreme bot tom end of the chamber 71 in which sediment or water may collect and prevent the sediment from flowing on into the carburetor. We also propose to place an opening (for the purpose of simplicity not shown) in the bot tom of the tank at its lowest inside point and have the same filled by a removable plug or a manually operable valve in order that the tank may be drained from the bottom to drajiv off the liquid fuel or to clean the pump tan r.

Projecting upwardly from the base cap 33 and preferably integral therewith is an annular projection 43 surrounding the inlet aperture 34 and supported by this annular member 43 is an upwardly extending guide or pump cylinder 44. Within the pump cylinder and adapted for relative movement axially thereof is a vibration or inertia operated pump plunger or piston 45. This piston 45 in the form shown is provided with an axial opening 46 the lower end of which opens into the preferably concave end, 47, of the piston to facilitate by means of the concavity, the escape of air bubbles if there should be any, and to intensify the suction effect of the piston.

The upper end of the plunger 45 is laterally extended to form a weight or annular plate 48, the circumference of which terminates at points adjacent to the inside of the pump tank casing 31 but not forming a tight fit therewith. This fit is to be such that liquid may pass between the casing 31 and the periphery of the annular plate but we prefer that the fit be sufiiciently close that the passage of liquid from above the plate 48 to below it, or vice versa, is more or less hindered by the constricted passage area. This passage area also will allow free passage of air from above the plate 48 to below it and vice versa in order that the liquid in the chamber 71 may always be under atmospheric pressure. This construction makes use of the enlarged portion 48 of the piston not only for ng the weight of the piston to a greater pumping effect, but also for dampening the vibration of the piston when the liquid in the chamber 71 is in contact with the lower surface thereof or liquid is forced to pass between the edge of the disk 48 and the" wall of the container 01. Further dampening action is caused by the plate 48 losing weight as it beco es submerged in the liquid whereby the lower normal limit of the am plitude of vibration is raised and the stroke shortened. When the vibration is thus dampened the pumping action of the pump practically stops until the level of the liquid in the space 71 is lowered as this liquid is consumed by the carburetor. The piston then will begin pumping again until the upper surface of the liquid in the space 71 again reaches the lower surface of the plate 43 when the pumping eflect again stops. The center of the plate 48 is formed into a recess 49 which communicates at its base with the upper end of the opening 46 in the plunger or piston 45, and a check valve 50, the ball 51 of which rests on the valve seat 52. normally closes the connection between the opcning 46 and recess 49. Recess 49 communicates with the space 71 or the interior of the tank casing through opening 53. the outlet of which terminates in the base of the annular plate 48 or at any convenient point on the exterior of the plunger or piston mcm 'ieiabove the upper end of the cylinder 4.

The recesses 49 is closed on top by means of a plug 54 which forms the lower terminal of a rod 55 extending through an aperture 56 in the top Inthis way the top cap acts as aguide for the upper end of the pis ton through the rod or instead of the rod '55 the piston may have an integral projection adapted to project through an opening through the top cap 82 so that the latter may serve as a guide for the upper part of the piston. It is not necessary that the upper plate 32 be the guide or that there be any beside the casing 44. Then too the plate 48 ma r serve as a uide b its nerioher contion direct or by suitable wire or rod connection to the dash, such as the lever 72 shown in Figure I which may be used by the operator without having to leave his seat or to raise the hood of the automobile to get to the tank direct .which tank is mounted beneath the hood of the automobile. By pushing the rod 55 down, allowing it to return several times, the liquid chamber 71 in the pump tank will be supplied with liquid fuel even though the automobile is standing still or there be insuflicient vibration at any time to cause automatic filling of the tank chamber. As soon as the automobile starts to move, however, the tankwill be automatically supplied in a short time with the liquid fuel from the rear tank, this due to the operation of the pumping mechanism caused by the vibration of the car. The pumping mechanism will also be operated by merely the shaking of the automobile as by jumping up and down on the running board, or in fact, with some cars and with carefully arranged valve mechanism, it is possible to cause the pumping to be performed merely by the vibration of the car or pump support resulting from the operation of the running of the engine.

There is positioned about the guide cylinder 44a coil spring 58, one end of which contaots against the base plate 33 and the other end of which bears against the lower side of the plunger plate 48. The object of this spring isto support the plunger or piston 45 yieldingly at a point of balance, with the bottom of the plate 48 normally above the stop determined by the top of the guide cylinder 44 to such an extent that an oscillatory movementof the plunger or piston within a restricted amplitude is possible, the upper limit of movement being the top cap 32 buffed, however, by a spring 74. The spring 58 is not altogether necessary to an operation of the device, though it is preferable. Suflicient pumping action will be obtained without the spring 58 if the vibration of the operating mechanism is sufficiently rapid or of suflicient strength; in fact, this does not need to be rapid or strong for a small amount of pumping. To take care of a normal amount of pumping with a small vibration am litude or a very slow period of vibration tie spring shouldbe quite long before deflecting to suport the piston, i. e. the piston should be very ieavy relative to the size ofpistonand the spring deflection to balance the weight should be very long. The exact relationship, however, is a matter of calculation and design for the particular work to be accomplished.

The capacity of thepump and the height to which the pump will pump the liquid are factors of the area of the piston and its weight as well as the amplitude of vibration. Greater pressure may be obtained by having a smaller diameter piston keeping the weight the same while a larger volume of liquid may be pumped keeping the weight of the piston the same, but pumped to a less height by enlarging the diameter of the piston. The dampening effect, due to the plate 48 contacting with the liquid in the space 71, depends upon the area of the undersurface of the plate 48 in contact with the liquid having in mind a particular size diameter of the piston. W'ith these points in mind the characteristics of the pump may be readily changed to produce the particular effect desired under the conditions existing.

The operation of the mechanism will appear from the above description as follows: The piston plunger 45 is freely movable in the cylinder 44 and is maintained at a balance point determined by the mass of the plunger or piston element and the strength of the spring 58. Due to the inertia of the piston and to its spring support, if used, any movement of the container 31 in which there is a forcecomponent parallel to the axis'of free movement of the piston causes a relative axial movement between the cylinder 44 and piston 45, the piston 45 due to its inertia if standing still tending to remain still, and

if in motion, to continue in motion in the same direction. The cylinder 44, however, being connected positively with thesupport upon which. it is mounted, will. be caused to follow whatever vibration ormotion'its support or the car has. This relative movement of the container and piston, it will be seen, enlarges or decreases the size of the chamber between the lower end of the piston and lower inside end of thecylinder in which it fits, and with the cooperation of the valve tends to pump fluid from the tank 12 to the space 71 in the pump tank. Thus any relative oscillation between the piston and its cylinder about their relative normal point of balance as determined by the mass of the piston and the strength of the spring, continues the pump-" ing action until t-he relative movement stops. Relative movement between thepiston and cylinder increasing the space 70 operates to suck gasoline {K011151116 rear tank 12 through pipe 14 and valve 38 and pipe into the pump chamber 7 0 and the reverse relative movement-between the piston and cylinder at when the space 70 is being reduced operates to force some of the liquid in the pump chamber -70 through opening 46, valve and hole 53 into the space between the guide cylinder 4A and the inside of the casing 31. The valves '38 and 50 are adapted to permit flow of liquid in this direction and prevent thefiow in the opposite direction. Thus the valve 38 in the inlet pipe, and the valve 50 in the piston form the outer limit of an expansible chamber 70 in which liquid or fluid is movable in one direction only, namely, from the main tanklQ through the pump chamber 70 and from there into the space 71. A downward movement of the piston seats valve 38, should the eXpansi ble chamber 70 be filled with liquid, and unseats valve 50, theliquid moving through the hole 53 into the pump tank space 71. A succeeding upward movement of the piston closes valve 50and opens valve 88, liquid from pipe 1% following the piston into chamber 70 by virtue of atmospheric pressure according to well known principles of suction pump action.

It is, of course, obvious that the oscillations of the piston about its point of rest are rapidly damped, since the piston works 1 against atmospheric pressure in the one direction and theresistance of the liquid in the other direction, but the persistence of the oscillation may be varied in accordance with the variations in the value of the constant of the spring and-piston, and with the variation in the viscosity of the liquid. However, the operation may be made so sensitive that the engine vibration is enough to supply the liquid fuel for idling the motor by properly designing the valves and parts. The valves in the normal pumping operation of the mechanism are submerged in the liquid.

The object of the atmospheric port will now be apparent inasmuch as in order to not obstruct movement of the piston against a back air pressure in'the upper part of the tank, free air movement between the tank exterior and the interior of the tank should be provided. However, obvious means are provided in the port 60 so that splashing of the liquid out of the tank through this port will be avoided. It should be observed. however, that this port opening is made as sand as possible without hindering the elliciency of the mechanism, in order to diminish, as far as possible. the escape of vapor from the tank interior. T his objec to prevent undue escape of vapor, is also somewhat facilitated by the 'U-d'esi gn of the vent tube 61 in that especially during the movement of the automobile the temperature of the tube is below that of the tank and hence a certain amount of condensation takes place the liquid returning to the tank. Of course the opening tube 61 can be eliminated and a loose fit betvveen the rod 55 and the guide 56 be made to permit passage of air between the outside of the pump tank and the inside. v

The tank space 71 of the container 31 is initially supplied with liquid by manually operating the piston by means of the exterior connection 55 to the piston or shaking the car or tank support.

Should the automatic pump action be such as to fill the space 71 in the container with liquid up to the piston plate 48, the movement of the piston will then be abnormally hinderez by the surface suction and by reason of the re tricted passage between the edge of the disk and the container wall through which the liquid must pass in the further p1 mping action and by the change of balance between the spring and the piston due to the losing of weight of the disk 48 as it becomes submerged in the liquid, thereby decreasing or dampening the pump action until the liquid level. has again fallen. The effect of the dampening due to the liquid being adjacent the bottom of plate i8 is that the pump autcmatically will maintain the height of the liquid in space '71 substantially constant for as liquid r1. .5; out through pipe 42 to the carburetor the pinnping action increases and automatically refills the space 71 to its subintially constant level. Through this operation the effect is that the pump operates only, and on the average, to such an extent as isneeded to keep a reasonably constant level in the space 71.

This invention is an improvement upon the,

basic invention described and claimed in our copending application, Serial No. 538,493, and the claims herein contained are drawn to features not covered by the said broader application.

The system and apparatus disclosed herein constitutes merely one embodiment of our invention and may be altered or changed considerably without departing from the spirit of our invention; Therefore, we claim our pre ent invention inbroad-terms, as indicated by the appended claims.

hat we claim is:

1. In a. fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, a vibration operated pumping mechanism for feeding liquid fuel from a supply tank, and means controlling the pressure at which liquid fuel is fed by said fuel supply system to the engine, said means operatin by contact of the liquid pumped with a surface movable with the pumping mechanism.

'2. In a vibratory pump mechanism of the class described in which there is relative movement between an inertia-actuated piston and a cylinder, the combination with said inertia-actuated piston and cylinder and valves therefor anda chamber to receive the discharge from the pump of means for disabling the pump controlled by the amount of liquid in the receiving chamber. 7

3. In mechanism of the class described the combination of a vibratory cylinder; a piston working therein and adapted to be given relative movement with respect to the cylinder when the latter is vibrated; valve connections whereby the cylinder and piston cooperate to perform a pumping operation; and means for dampening the vibrations of the pistons with respect to the cylinder when the liquid in the receiving chamber from the pump reaches a certain level.

4. A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel supply tank, a pump for pumping liquid fuel from the supply tank for the engine, including a piston and a pump chamber having relative movement due to inertia when subjected to vibration, and automatic means for restricting the stroke of said piston when the liquid circulating in said system reaches a predetermined height.

5. A fuel supply s stem for automotive vehicles comprising a uel supply tank, a pump for pumping liquid fuel from the supply tank for an en ine of the vehicle,'said pump being actuated by the vibration normally inherent in the automotive vehicle when in operation, an automatic means for restricting the stroke of said pump and thereby limiting the pumping action.

6. A fuel supply system for internal combustion engines comprisingia tank, a pump in said tank including'a pump chamber connected with a source of supply and a resiliently supported piston working in said pump chamber, and means forautomatically restricting the stroke of said piston when the liquid reaches a predetermined level in said tank. r

7. A fuel supply system for automotive vehicles comprising a tank, a pump chamber connected to a source of supply and discharging liquid fuel therefrom into the tank, an inertia-operated piston working in the pump chamber, and automatic means for restricting the stroke of said piston when the liquid rises to a predetermined level in the tank.

8. A fuel supply system for automotive vehicles comprising a tank, a cylinder having an inlet communicating with a source of supply and discharging into the tank, a resiliently supported piston working in said cylinder, and means for damping the stroke of said piston when the level of the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined height.

9. A fuel supply system for automotive vehicles comprising a fuel supply tank, a pump chamber within the tank connected with a source of supply and discharging into the tank, a resiliently supported piston working in said pump chamber and means whereby the liquid in said tank interposes a resistence effective to check the movement of said piston when the liquid rises to a predetermined level in the tank.

l0. A fuel supply system for automotive vehicles comprising a fuel supply tank, a. pump chamber within said tank connected with the source of supply to receive liquid 1 fuel therefrom, and discharging into the tank, a resiliently supported piston working in said pump chamber and having an enlarged portion fitting within the tank soas to provide restrictive passage between said portion and the wall of the tank whereby the liquid in said tank is elfectiveto restrict the stroke of said piston when said liquid reaches a predetermined level. V

11. A device of the class described comprisinga receptacle, a pump including two relatively movable elements, one of which is fixed to the receptacle and the other of which is free for relative movement with respect thereto under the influence of inertia, and automatic means controlled by the level of liquid in said receptacle for restricting said relative movement. 7

12. A device of the class described comprising a receptacle open to the atmosphere,

a pump chamber discharging into said receptacle, a resiliently suported piston working in said pump chamber, and means controlled by the level of liquid in said receptacle for automatically restricting thestroke of said piston. i

13. A device of the class described comprising a receptacle, a pump chamber located within said receptacle and discharging liquid thereinto, a resiliently suported piston working in said pump chamber and provided with an extended surface adapted to engage the 15. A device of the class described com prising a receptacle open to the atmosphere, a pump chamber within sa1d receptacle, a pmton. working in sa1d chamber and pumping liquid into said receptacle, and means controlled by the liquid level in said rece tacle for automatically restricting the stro e of said piston.

16. A device of the class described comprising a tank, a cylinder supported within said tank andhaving a valve-controlled inlet adapted to be connected to an external source of supply, and a piston resiliently-supported within said. tank and working in said cylinder', said piston having an enlarged portion above the upper end of the cylinder extending into proximity to the wall of said tank and automatically restricting the piston stroke when the liquid in. the tank rises to the level of said' enlarged portion.

17. A device of the class described coniprising a tank, a pump chamber within said tank having a valve-controlled inlet adapted to be connected to an external source of supply, a piston working in said chamber and provided with a piston-actuating mass, a spring supporting said piston from the bottom of the tank, and a buffer interposed between sa'id piston and the top of the tank to check extreme movements of the piston.

18. A device of the class described comprising a tank, a pump chamber within said tank having; a valve-controlled inlet adapted to be connected to an external source of supply, a pistonv working. in said chamber and provided with a piston-actuated= mass, a spring supporting. said piston from the bottom of the tank, an operatingstem' extending from the upper end of the piston through the top of the tank, and a buffer spring disposed on said stem. between the piston and the top of the tank.

19'. A. means for elevating fuel from the main tank of a motor" vehicle. to the carburetoi' thereof comprising an element operable by vibration, means responsive to the operation of said vibrating element to effect elevation of said fuel, a chamber enclosing said vibratory element for the storage of a local pool of fuel, said chamber enclosing said vibratory element and having such relation thereto that the accumulation of a predetermined quantity of fuel in said chamber will stop further vibration of said vibratory element.

20-. A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine comprising'a fuel supply tank, a pump for pumping liquid fuel from the supply tank for the engine including a piston and a pump chamber having relative movement due to inertia when the latter'is subjected to vibration, said piston having an elevated horizontal plate secured thereto whereby automatic means is effected for re stricting' the stroke of said piston when the liquid circulating in said system reaches the elevation of the plate.

subjected to vibration, said piston having a horizontal plate elevated in the system whereby automatic means is provided for restricting the stroke of said piston when the liquid circulating in the system reaches the level ofthe elevated plate.

22. A fuel supply system for internal combusion engines comprising a tank, a pump in said tank including a resiliently supported piston mounted for reciprocation in a cylinder connected with a source of fuel supply, said piston having a horizontal plate elevated in the tank whereby when the fuel in the tank reaches the elevation of the plate the action of the piston will be-disabled.

23. A fuel supply system for automotive vehicles comprising a fuel supply tank, a secondary tank located at a higher level than the supply tank. a resiliently supported piston in the secondary tank, a cylinder connected to the fuel supply tank and adapted to cooperate with the piston to pump fuel from the supply tank into the secondary tank, said piston havin a horizontal plate elevated in the secondary tank, said plate operating to dampen the action of the piston by the incennpressibility of the fuel when the same reaches the level of the plate.

24-. A fuel supply system for automotive vehicles comprising a fuel supply tank, a secondary'tank located at ahigher level than the supply tank, an open-ended cylinder in the secondary tank having a piston mounted therein, said piston being resiliently supported in the secondary tank and operating upon reciprocation to withdraw fuel from the supply tank and introduce the same into the secondary tank, said piston having a horizontal plate elevated in the secondary tank, said plate operating to dampen the action of the piston by incompressibility of the fuel when the same reaches the level of the plate.

25. A fuel supply system for automotive vehicles comprising a fuel supply tank, a secondary tank located at a higher level in the supply tank, an open-ended cylinder in the secondary tank having an inlet connected to the fuel supply tank, a hollow piston resiliently mounted in the secondary tank and adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder to withdraw fuel from the supply tank and deposit: the same in the secondary tank, a horizontal plate formed on the piston in elevated position with respectto the secondary tank to dampen the action of the piston when the fuel reaches the level of the plate, there being an opening connecting the interior of the piston with the underside of the plate whereby fuel may pass through the piston to the underside of the'plate when the piston is reciprocated in the cylinder.

26. A fuel supply systenrfor automotive vehicles comprising a fuel supply tank, a secondary tank located at a higher level than the supply tank, a cylinder in the secondary supply tank having a hollow piston mounted for reciprocation therein, said cylinder being connected to the fuel supply whereby reciprocation of the piston will introduce fuel from the supply tank to the secondary tank through said hollow piston, a plate on said piston elevated in the secondary tank, there being a passage connecting the interior of the piston with the space beneath said elevated plate, and means permitting exclusion of gas beneath said plate when the liquid in the secondary tank reaches a predetermined level whereby action of the piston will be dampened by the incompressibility of the fuel.

27. A device of the class described comprising a tank, a pump cylinder extending from the bottom of the tank to the upper part there of and having a valve controlled inlet at the lower part thereof, a piston working in said cylinder and provided at its upper end with a piston actuating mass which cooperates with the upper end of the cylinder in limiting the downward movement of the piston, a spring surrounding said cylinder and interposed between thebottom of the tank and the piston actuating mass to determine the normal position of the piston, said piston having a fluid passage exten ding upwardly from the lower end thereof and having at its upper end a ball valve chamber communicating with the upper end of said passage and with the upper side of said piston actuating mass and a discharge passage extending; from the ball valve chamber to the lower side of said piston actuating mass, a ball in said ball valve chamher, and means to close the upper end of said ball valve chamber.

28. A device of the class described comprising a tank, a pump cylinder extending from the bottom of the tank to the upper part thereof and having a valve controlled inlet at the lower part thereof, a piston working in said cylinder and provided at its upper end with a piston actuating mass which cooperates with the upper end of the cylinder in limiting the downward movement of the piston, a spring surrounding said cylinder and interposed between the bottom ot the tankand the piston actuating mass to determine the nor-' actuating mass, a ball in said ball valve cham-.

her, and a guiding member extending through the cover of the tank and threaded into the upper end of the ball valve chamber so as to close the upper end of the ball valve chamber and serve as a guiding and actuating device for the piston.

In testimony whereof, we atiix our signatures.

CHESTER H. BRASELTON. FRED B. MAGLAREN. 

